Upstream water, rain trigger flood in north, northeast dists

UNB NEWS

Saturday 12 August, 2017 08:22:10 pm

Dhaka, Aug 12 (UNB) –The water level rise in different rivers of the country’s north and northeast region triggered by heavy downpour and onrush of water from upstream flooded vast areas, leaving thousands of people marooned.

According to reports reaching the UNB desk, the water levels in different rivers, including Brahmaputra, Dharla, Surma, Teesta, Dhudkumar, Karatoa, Mohananda, Dahuk and Bhersa, in Sylhet, Kurigram, Sunamganj, Sherpur and Panchagarh districts continued to rise.

In Kurigram, the water level in the Brahmaputra, Dharala and Dhudkumar rivers is rising rapidly due to onrush of water from the upstream, leaving about 10,000 people marooned.

More than 100 villages in low-lying areas of Kurigram sadar, Phurbari, Rajarhat, Nageshwari Bhurungamari, Ulipur, Chilmari Roumari and Rajibpur went under water on Saturday.

Sources at Kurigram Water Development Board said the water level has increased at bridge point of the Dharla River, Chilmari point of the Brahmaputra River and Nun Khawa point of the Teesta River by 72 centimetres, 66 centimetres, and 24 centimetres respectively in the last 24 hours and near to cross danger level.

The inhabitants of Jatrapur of in sadar, Attaraghoria, Baroghoria, Hemerkuthi, Jogmohoner Char and Char Joykumar stand threatened by serious erosion.

In Panchagarh, flood water submerged five upazilas as the water level in the Karatoa, Mohananda, Dahuk and Bhersa rivers of Kurigram rose due to onrush of water from the upstream coupled with heavy rain.

Boda upazila project implementation officer M Ashraful Islam said three shelter centres at Boda Sadar and two in Benghari union have been opened.

Panchagarh Water Development Board executive director M Mizanur Rahman said 290 milimetres of rainfall were recorded in 24 hours since 8:00am Friday.

In Sunamganj, the Surma River has been flowing 73 centimetres above the danger level, leaving several thousand people marooned.

Some 1,875 hectares of land went under water while academic activities have been suspended in 200 educational institutions in six upazilas.

The local administration has provided 3 tonnes of rice and Tk 10,000 in cash for flood victims in 11 upazilas.

In Sylhet, over 50,000 people have been marooned after the rise in water level at three points of the Surma and the Kushiyara rivers.

The four flood-affected upazilas of the district are Companiganj, Goainghat, Jaintapur and Kanaighat.

Sylhet Met office sources said they recorded 117 millimeters of rain from 6am to 3pm on Saturday.

In Sherpur, vast areas in six unions under Nalitabari upazila, including the municipality area, have been inundated due to the rise in the water level in Bhogai and Chillakhali rivers on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Met office recorded 16.0 mm of rainfall in Dhaka from 6am to 12pm today. The highest 218 mm of rainfall was recorded in Sitakunda during the period.

Heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy (89mm or more) rainfall is likely to occur at places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Dhaka and Chittagong divisions during the next 24 hours beginning at 10am today, according to the Met office.

Due to heavy to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.